The Talented Mr. Ripley: Critic Reviews

In terms of psychological profundity, it isn't one millimeter deep.

It's a sign of how watered-down the movie is that only the supporting actors have any bite.

Perhaps at 90 or so minutes, it would have been the Hitchcockian thriller that it isn't at the beginning but turns into. At two hours and 20 minutes, there's too much of the film that feels like reiteration.

It's a gorgeously unsettling film. You can hide in the shadows, but luminescence exposes who you are, and the only escape is into another identity.

Familiarity is the watchword of this overblown opus, which neglects holes in the plot to play up its postmodern theme of identity as pastiche -- a clear case of the pot calling the kettle black.

On balance, The Talented Mr. Ripley is worth seeing more for its undeniably delightful journey than its final destination.

Even before its release, The Talented Mr. Ripley has attracted some mighty serious analytic attention.

Minghella isn't going back to the modest style and the organic emotion of Truly, Madly, Deeply, his first and still his best film.

Lacking in emotional impact.

Full of murder and deceit; too violent for kids.

The blend of Minghella's gloss and Damon's steel results in a psychological thriller of huge style and depth. A very good movie.

This is certainly no fast-paced nail-biting thriller, but much rather a slow-paced intriguing drama very reminiscent of Hitchcock films.

Ripley morphs into a well-meaning kid who yearns to be somebody. He's deprived, not depraved.

The Talented Mr. Ripley is lovely wrapping without much to say.

Not only is it an elegantly polished affair, with top notch performances all round, and magnificent camerawork and editing, it's also acutely aware of how class, money and sex shape desire and resentment.

The Master of Suspense would never have turned in a movie this sloppy.

When Law leaves in the middle, the whole film just sags.

Minghella, once again, shows his eclectic talents.

In a career-making performance, the saxophone-blowing, tantrum-throwing Law plays Dickie with such vigor and energy that when he exits, the light dims slightly from the film...

We all knew Damon was a fine actor after Good Will Hunting, but The Talented Mr. Ripley takes him much further much faster than anyone could have expected.

In a starry line-up it's Jude Law who commands most presence, playing the charmer so well that his absence in the latter half leaves a gaping void.

The Talented Mr. Ripley is creepy and suspenseful, and well-acted, but too long.

The Talented Mr. Ripley is worth more than a peep.

Tense tale combines travel magazine gloss with Alfred Hitchcock's dark heart.

An undeniable masterpiece.